Rosen, Jeff (2004) “Supreme mistake” NEW REPUBLIC, 11/8, p. 18-23

President Bush is new re-elected and he will prefer to pick a conservative such as Thomas and/or Scalia. The thrust of the new conservative court will be to return the country to pre-1930’s when states rights prevailed. In some ways, this could be the Confederate States of the United States of America.

It could also impact Roe v. Wade. Roe is extremely popular in the early stages and the Republican Party could lose numerous women if the Roe is completely outlawed. Further, opposition is an excellent issue for the party in terms of the base.

If a confederation of sorts is formed, Roe could be outlawed in some states, but not others. On the other hand, if the prevailing laws continue, abortions continue to DECREASE every year. By custom, there are fewer abortions performed when controlling for age-specific population. In other words, women choose not to have abortions.

However, if it becomes a federal law, punishment of the women or mother and the abortionists or doctor
could be very severe or tough on the doctor. An underground to Canada could be created.

On other issues, the states may become so different that like now, business could locate in the cheapest states. There would not be federal minimum wages or environmental laws and related.